LncRNA PART1 Promotes Proliferation and Migration, Is Associated with Cancer Stem Cells, and Alters the miRNA Landscape in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Association between lncRNAs with stem cells in cancer; a particular focus on lncRNA-CSCs axis in cancer immunopathogenesis

A unique population of cells known as cancer stem cells (CSCs) is essential to developing and spreading cancer. Cancer initiation, maintenance, and progression are all believed to be significantly impacted by the distinct characteristics these cells exhibit regarding self-renewal, proliferation, and differentiation. Transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and translational processes are the only steps of gene expression that lncRNAs can affect. As a result, these proteins participate in numerous biological processes, including the repair of DNA damage, inflammatory reactions, metabolic control, the survival of cells, intercellular communication, and the development and specialization of cells. Studies have indicated that lncRNAs are important for controlling the increase in the subset of CSCs contributing to cancer development. The knowledge that is currently available about lncRNAs and their critical role in maintaining the biological properties of CSCs is highlighted in this study.

Comprehensive characterization of stemness-related lncRNAs in triple-negative breast cancer identified a novel prognostic signature related to treatment outcomes, immune landscape analysis and therapeutic guidance: a silico analysis with in vivo experiments

BACKGROUND

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are known to play a crucial role in the growth, migration, recurrence, and drug resistance of tumor cells, particularly in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). This study aims to investigate stemness-related lncRNAs (SRlncRNAs) as potential prognostic indicators for TNBC patients.

METHODS

Utilizing RNA sequencing data and corresponding clinical information from the TCGA database, and employing Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) on TNBC mRNAsi sourced from an online database, stemness-related genes (SRGs) and SRlncRNAs were identified. A prognostic model was developed using univariate Cox and LASSO-Cox analysis based on SRlncRNAs. The performance of the model was evaluated using Kaplan-Meier analysis, ROC curves, and ROC-AUC. Additionally, the study delved into the underlying signaling pathways and immune status associated with the divergent prognoses of TNBC patients.

RESULTS

The research identified a signature of six SRlncRNAs (AC245100.6, LINC02511, AC092431.1, FRGCA, EMSLR, and MIR193BHG) for TNBC. Risk scores derived from this signature were found to correlate with the abundance of plasma cells. Furthermore, the nominated chemotherapy drugs for TNBC exhibited considerable variability between different risk score groups. RT-qPCR validation confirmed abnormal expression patterns of these SRlncRNAs in TNBC stem cells, affirming the potential of the SRlncRNAs signature as a prognostic biomarker.

CONCLUSION

The identified signature not only demonstrates predictive power in terms of patient outcomes but also provides insights into the underlying biology, signaling pathways, and immune status associated with TNBC prognosis. The findings suggest the possibility of guiding personalized treatments, including immune checkpoint gene therapy and chemotherapy strategies, based on the risk scores derived from the SRlncRNA signature. Overall, this research contributes valuable knowledge towards advancing precision medicine in the context of TNBC.

Milk fat miRNome changes in response to LPS challenge in Holstein cows

Mastitis is an inflammatory disease in dairy cows, causing economic losses and reducing animal welfare. In order to contribute for the discovery of early and noninvasive indicators, our objective was to determine the effects of a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge on the microRNA profile (miRNome) of milk fat, using microarray analyses in cows. Cows were fed a lactation diet at ad libitum intake (n = 6). At 27 ± 3 days in milk, cows were injected with 50 µg of LPS Escherichia coli in one healthy rear mammary quarter. Milk samples were collected just before LPS challenge (LPS-) and 6.5 h after LPS challenge (LPS +) from the same cows. Microarray analysis was performed using customized 8 × 60 K ruminant miRNA microarrays to compare LPS- to LPS + miRNome. In silico functional analyses were performed using OmicsNet and Mienturnet software. MiRNome comparison between LPS- and LPS + identified 37 differentially abundant miRNAs (q-value ≤ 0.05). The predicted target genes of the 37 differentially abundant miRNAs are mostly involved in cell life including apoptosis, cell cycle, proliferation and differentiation and in gene expression processes. MiRNome analyses suggest that miRNAs profile is related to the inflammation response of the mammary gland. In conclusion, we demonstrated that milk fat might be an easy and rapid source of miRNAs that are potential indicators of early mastitis in cows.

circFNDC3B promotes esophageal squamous cell carcinoma progression by targeting MYO5A via miR-370-3p/miR-136-5p

BACKGROUND

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a prevalent malignant tumor worldwide. Circular RNA (circRNA) is of great value in tumorigenesis progression. However, the mechanism of circFNDC3B in ESCC remains to be clarified.

METHODS

Firstly, the circular characteristics of circFNDC3B were evaluated by Actinomycin D and RNase R measurements. The functions of circFNDC3B in ESCC cells were examined by CCK-8, EdU and flow cytometry. Subsequently, the molecular mechanism of circFNDC3B was explained using luciferase reporter gene detection. Finally, we constructed xenograft model to prove the role of circFNDC3B in vivo.

RESULTS

Our study revealed that circFNDC3B was more stable than its linear RNA and prominently upregulated in ESCC. Functional findings suggested that silencing of circFNDC3B reduced the proliferation and enhanced apoptosis of ESCC cells in vitro. Meanwhile, knockdown of circFNDC3B attenuated tumor progression in vivo. Next, miR-370-3p/miR-136-5p was discovered to bind circFNDC3B. miR-370-3p/miR-136-5p reversed the promotive effect on cell proliferation and the inhibitory effect on cell apoptosis of circFNDC3B. MYO5A was a downstream target of miR-370-3p/miR-136-5p. CircFNDC3B served as a sponge for miR-370-3p/miR-136-5p and alleviated the prohibitory effect of miR-370-3p/miR-136-5p on MYO5A, which accelerated ESCC progression.

CONCLUSION

circFNDC3B positively adjusted the MYO5A expression via spongy miR-370-3p/miR-136-5p, hence achieving the cancer-promoting effect on ESCC. circFNDC3B was a prospective diagnosis marker for ESCC.

A review on the role of long non-coding RNA prostate androgen-regulated transcript 1 (PART1) in the etiology of different disorders

LncRNA prostate androgen-regulated transcript 1 (PART1) is an important lncRNA in the carcinogenesis whose role has been firstly unraveled in prostate cancer. Expression of this lncRNA is activated by androgen in prostate cancer cells. In addition, this lncRNA has a role in the pathogenesis intervertebral disc degeneration, myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis and Parkinson's disease. Diagnostic role of PART1 has been assessed in some types of cancers. Moreover, dysregulation of PART1 expression is regarded as a prognostic factor in a variety of cancers. The current review provides a concise but comprehensive summary of the role of PART1 in different cancers and non-malignant disorders.

ZHX2 in health and disease

As a transcriptional factor and the negative regulator of alpha fetal protein (AFP), Zinc fingers and homeoboxes 2 (ZHX2) has a well-established role in protection against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, recent studies have suggested ZHX2 as an oncogene in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Moreover, mounting evidence has illustrated a much broader role of ZHX2 in multiple cellular processes, including cell proliferation, cell differentiation, lipid metabolism, and immunoregulation. This comprehensive review emphasizes the role of ZHX2 in health and diseases which have been more recently uncovered.

Nanomaterial-assisted CRISPR gene-engineering - A hallmark for triple-negative breast cancer therapeutics advancement

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most violent class of tumor and accounts for 20–24% of total breast carcinoma, in which frequently rare mutation occurs in high frequency. The poor prognosis, recurrence, and metastasis in the brain, heart, liver and lungs decline the lifespan of patients by about 21 months, emphasizing the need for advanced treatment. Recently, the adaptive immunity mechanism of archaea and bacteria, called clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) combined with nanotechnology, has been utilized as a potent gene manipulating tool with an extensive clinical application in cancer genomics due to its easeful usage and cost-effectiveness. However, CRISPR/Cas are arguably the efficient technology that can be made efficient via organic material-assisted approaches. Despite the efficacy of the CRISPR/Cas@nano complex, problems regarding successful delivery, biodegradability, and toxicity remain to render its medical implications. Therefore, this review is different in focus from past reviews by (i) detailing all possible genetic mechanisms of TNBC occurrence; (ii) available treatments and gene therapies for TNBC; (iii) overview of the delivery system and utilization of CRISPR-nano complex in TNBC, and (iv) recent advances and related toxicity of CRISPR-nano complex towards clinical trials for TNBC.

Recent insights into the microRNA and long non-coding RNA-mediated regulation of stem cell populations

Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that have multi-lineage differentiation. The transition from self-renewal to differentiation requires rapid and extensive gene expression alterations. Since different stem cells exhibit diverse non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) expression profiles, the critical roles of ncRNAs in stem cell reprogramming, pluripotency maintenance, and differentiation have been widely investigated over the past few years. Hence, in this current review, the two main categories of ncRNAs, microRNAs (miRNAs) and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), are discussed. While the primary way by which miRNAs restrict mRNA transcription is through miRNA-mRNA interaction, lncRNAs have a wide range of effects on mRNA functioning, including interactions with miRNAs. Both of these ncRNAs participate in the post-transcriptional regulation of crucial biological mechanisms, such as cell cycle regulation, apoptosis, aging, and cell fate decisions. These findings shed light on a previously unknown aspect of gene regulation in stem cell fate determination and behavior. Overall, we summarized the key roles of miRNAs (including exosomal miRNAs) and lncRNAs in the regulation of stem cell populations, such as cardiac, hematopoietic, mesenchymal, neural, and spermatogonial, as well ncRNAs' influence on malignancy through modulating cancer stem cells, which might significantly contribute to clinical stem cell therapy and in regenerative medicine.

Long non‑coding RNA PART1: dual role in cancer

Increasing evidence has shown that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), which are non-coding endogenous single-stranded RNAs, play an essential role in various physiological and pathological processes through transcriptional interference, post-transcriptional regulation, and epigenetic modification. Moreover, lncRNAs, as oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes, play an important role in the occurrence and development of human cancers. Prostate androgen-regulated transcript 1 (PART1) was initially identified as a carcinogenic lncRNA in prostate adenomas. The upregulated expression of PART1 plays a tumor-promoting role in liver, prostate, lung cancers, and other tumors. In contrast, the expression of PART1 is downregulated in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, glioma, and other tumors, which may inhibit the tumor. PART1 plays a dual role in cancer and regulates cell proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, and metastasis through a variety of potential mechanisms. These findings suggest that PART1 is a promising tumor biomarker and therapeutic target. This article reviews the biological functions, related mechanisms, and potential clinical significance of PART1 in a variety of human cancers.

Identification of LOC101927355 as a Novel Biomarker for Preeclampsia

Preeclampsia, a disorder with a heterogeneous physiopathology, can be attributed to maternal, fetal, and/or placental factors. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) refer to a class of non-coding RNAs, the essential regulators of biological processes; their differential expression has been associated with the pathogenesis of multiple diseases. The study aimed to identify lncRNAs, expressed in the placentas and plasma of patients who presented with preeclampsia, as potential putative biomarkers of the disease. In silico analysis was performed to determine lncRNAs differentially expressed in the placentas of patients with preeclampsia, using a previously published RNA-Seq dataset. Seven placentas and maternal plasma samples collected at delivery from preterm preeclamptic patients (≤37 gestational weeks of gestation), and controls were used to validate the expression of lncRNAs by qRT-PCR. Six lncRNAs were validated and differentially expressed (p < 0.05) in the preeclampsia and control placentas: UCA1 and HCG4 were found upregulated, and LOC101927355, LINC00551, PART1, and NRAD1 downregulated. Two of these lncRNAs, HCG4 and LOC101927355, were also detected in maternal plasma, the latter showing a significant decrease (p = 0.03) in preeclamptic patients compared to the control group. In silico analyses showed the cytoplasmic location of LOC101927355, which suggests a role in post-transcriptional gene regulation. The detection of LOC101927355 in the placenta and plasma opens new possibilities for understanding the pathogenesis of preeclampsia and for its potential use as a biomarker.

Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Cardiovascular Diseases and Cancer: Role of Non-coding RNAs

High oxidative stress, Th1/Th17 immune response, M1 macrophage inflammation, and cell death are associated with cardiovascular diseases. Controlled oxidative stress, Th2/Treg anti-tumor immune response, M2 macrophage inflammation, and survival are associated with cancer. MiR-21 protects against cardiovascular diseases but may induce tumor growth by retaining the anti-inflammatory M2 macrophage and Treg phenotypes and inhibiting apoptosis. Down-regulation of let-7, miR-1, miR-9, miR-16, miR-20a, miR-22a, miR-23a, miR-24a, miR-26a, miR-29, miR-30a, miR-34a, miR-124, miR-128, miR-130a, miR-133, miR-140, miR-143-145, miR-150, miR-153, miR-181a, miR-378, and miR-383 may aid cancer cells to escape from stresses. Upregulation of miR-146 and miR-223 may reduce anti-tumor immune response together with miR-21 that also protects against apoptosis. MiR-155 and silencing of let-7e, miR-125, and miR-126 increase anti-tumor immune response. MiR expression depends on oxidative stress, cytokines, MYC, and TGF-β, and expression of silencing lncRNAs and circ-RNAs. However, one lncRNA or circ-RNA may have opposite effects by targeting several miRs. For example, PVT1 induces apoptosis by targeting miR-16a and miR-30a but inhibits apoptosis by silencing miR-17. In addition, levels of a non-coding RNA in a cell type depend not only on expression in that cell type but also on an exchange of microvesicles between cell types and tumors. Although we got more insight into the function of a growing number of individual non-coding RNAs, overall, we do not know enough how several of them interact in functional networks and how their expression changes at different stages of disease progression.